
Class _?i_3_ir^ 
Book ^ ^I i2^_ 
Cop)Tight N"____ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



|UBfiARYofCONG«E5S 
Two Copies K«C6!veu 

UEC 30 1907 

CLASS (X AXc. m. 
COPY S. 



19^7 



Copyright, 

1907^ 

By Hugh Bliss Godlover. 



J 



^ 



Preface. 

The problem regarding the nature of the 
universal is as old as philosophy itself. Treated 
already by the predecessors of Plato, we find 
also the account given by Plato himself inad- 
equate. His ''idea of the good" remains still a 
mere abstract category, therefore we regard the 
problem as unsolved. Neither did Aristotle suc- 
ceed in this task ; and his definition of ''the un- 
moved mover" will hardly answer the demands of 
theology. Passing over mediaeval philosophy 
which was but a development of Platonic and 
Aristotelian thoughts, we meet the problem 
again in the Kantian Critiques. The gap left 
unbridged between them proves the solution to 
be deficient, and likewise we regard the answers 
given by Kant's successors. 

When we ask, why did philosophy fail, the 
explanation is ready for us. We say philosophy 
has failed, because the problem was improperly 
treated. For, two requirements we regard as 
absolutely indispensable for a proper treatment, 
either or both of which we miss in philosophy, 



6 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

namely, an intuitive treatment and a scientific 
treatment. 

First we say, the mere intuitive belief is 
virtually already the answer to the problem ! 
Availing ourselves of this principle we gain an 
inspiring force for our thinking faculty which 
opinionated reasoning would naturally exclude. 
We maintain a receptive attitude towards the 
transcendental. In such a way we can surely 
attain to truth. 

We further declare that an adequate answer 
of the problem requires that we treat it with 
scientific precision. But neither does philosophy 
always and thoroughly satisfy this demand. 
Philosophy is rather a longing after science and 
not a science properly so called. To my comply- 
ing with both of those requirements is it not in 
the least due that I had the grace, to become the 
medium of revelation of the Divine Religion. 

HUGH BUSS GODLOVER, 
Master of Science. 



Contents, 



Part I. The Revelation - - - 11 

Part II. Life-Experiences of Mr. Hugh Bhss 

Godlover - - - - 15 

Part III. The System of the Divine Rehgion 83 



Part I 



The Revelation. 

It remained for-ever ready that I can be God, 
because I am God. I am God, because I am God ; 
and because I am God, I am a person. 

I am a person among persons. I am a person 
among persons. I am a person among persons. 
I am a person among persons. I am a person 
among persons. 

I am an intellect among intellects. I am intel- 
lect that can be known, that at times becometh 
revealed, that can become revealed to a man 
who is capable of comprehending God, and who 
hath the power of overcoming Satan ; who hath 
the power of overcoming Satan till the last 
moment, till the moment of revelation of a person 
to a person for other persons. 

I am a person among persons. I am a person 
among persons. I am a person among persons. 
I am a person among persons. I am a person 
among persons. I am a person among persons. 
I am a person among other persons. I am a 
person in an infinite society of minds. I am a 
mind. 



12 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

I am that I wish to be to my children. I am 
a person among persons. I am feeling! I am a 
feeHng and heartily good father ; a father of so 
dear and sweetly dear, and beloved, heartily 
beloved children. I am a father caring for-ever 
for his children, for children, of children, of chil- 
dren, of children, of children, of children, and of 
children, that I am the eternal father of my 
beloved, dear children. 

Dear children : God hath become again 
revealed ; to ye, a mankind, during the ages, 
grown elder in civilization, but, alas, not so in 
wisdom. I am grieving and sorrowing for so 
many woeful sufferings on this earth, terribly 
woeful sufferings. Children, children, know ye 
the truth ; follow ye God, trust ye in God, and be 
ye blessed by God. 



Part II 



Life- Experiences of 
Mr. Hugh Bliss Godlover. 

BOOK L 

CHAPTER I. 

And it came to pass that a man found life not 
worth hving on the earth of this God, because 
this God, he imagined, bereaved him of his 
beloved little girl. He loved her, and so did she 
him, but both of these facts he doubted ; and he 
doubted, because he was a sceptic, which he had 
become on account of his insufficient life- 
experience. 

Born in the family of a banker, he was reared 
up as a bourgeois' son. But in his studies he 
became much impressed by the high ethical value 
of socialism, though in his scepticism he rated 
it — at least for the present — ^as impracticable. 
Therefore he shuns socialism, cares greedily for 
his own person, and has intercourse with con- 
temned women. And yet they too are children 
of their much grieved Father in heaven. 



16 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Brethren and sisters, let us spread, 
The pacific tidings that God exists; 

That God is an only loving mind, 

And, therefore, we His children are also minds. 

Let us herald everywhere and tell every man 
The truth that God is our eternal Father. 

God our eternal Father hath become again 
Revealed to us. His beloved children. 

God loveth all of us heartily, 

God loveth us as His dear children. 

Therefore let us love God, our eternal Father, 
Let us always love God witii all our heart. 

Let us all love God in thoughts and by deeds. 
By loving our fellowmen let us love God. 

Love ye your fellowmen by words of love. 
And by loving deeds prove ye them your love. 

Love ye them by teaching the love of God, 
By teaching them the true word of God. 

Love ye them by relief of their aches. 
By relieving them from woeful cruelties. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 17 

Let us alleviate their pains and griefs, 
Let us elevate them, and save their souls. 

Let us save the soul of every human being, 
Let us all co-operate for mankind's salvation. — 

Brethren and sisters, let us spread 
The pacific tidings and say the truth: 

That God loveth all of us as a father. 
The good and the wicked of His children. 

Therefore let us love God, and never hurt 
God's feelings, and never grieve our God. 

Let us be good for the sake of our God, 
Let us love each other for God's sake. 

Our love will contribute to the happiness of God, 
Our love will compensate for others' wickedness. 

Let us convert the wicked in a loving way. 
By teaching them truth and restoring their 
strength. 

Have ye love and patience for the sinners. 
They do wrong because of weakness or unknow- 
ingly. 



18 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

They do not know the truth or are too weak, 
Therefore they sin, and suffer for their sins. 

Have ye love and mercy with their suft"erings. 
Have ye pity and compassion for their pains. 

Let us reheve their pains with hearty care. 
Let us clear up their minds by wisdom and by 
truth. 

Let us tell the truth to them that God exists. 
That God loveth also them His wicked children. 

Let us try and try again to save their souls, 
Let us try by love till we succeed. 

Salvation will bestow happiness on them, 
Flappiness on us and, above all, happiness on 
God. 



ufe-expe;riences of mr. hugh buss godlover. 19 

CHAPTER II. 

Lonely in his room and studying sat a man, 
when the vast city of San Francisco was struck 
by fire and earthquake. He studied Ethics for an 
examination to be held at the University of 
California. He was born — far away from Berke- 
ley, the seat of the university, — in Czernowitz, an 
Austrian capital. He had the will to do some- 
thing for mankind. But how to accomplish this? 

He had not much money at his disposal, and 
even that money he did not regard entirely as 
his own, since according to his moral principles 
an adult person had to earn the means for his 
living by his own power. But this task is not so 
easy under the modern economic conditions. 

To gain wealth for suffering mankind, and to 
complete his knowledge he had emigrated to 
San Francisco, the rich emporium on the Golden 
Gate with the two great universities in its neigh- 
borhood. He loved mankind, science, and a girl, 
but imprudently ; therefore he had endured so 
terrible sufferings. He possessed great attain- 
ments in science, since he studied its various 
branches through his whole youth. Further he 



20 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

learned commerce, which study he combined with 
that of law. 

As a law student in Vienna he made the 
acquaintance of that girl, with whom he deeply 
fell in love. But it was not till he had entered 
the practice of law, that he renewed the acquaint- 
ance and made her a proposal of marriage. He 
then also wrote her of the circumstances which 
obviously favored their meeting, but he could 
not explain the true reason of these facts. That 
God was this benevolent reason, he did not know 
at that time. 

To-day Mr. Hugh Bliss Godlover is quite sure 
of this truth, since after long striving for the 
true conception of God, he had the grace that 
God became revealed to him. 

God is only good. Creatures as derived from 
God are originally also good, and cannot thus be 
the primordial causes of evil. Evil, therefore, 
originates from another fact, namely, from Satan. 

Brethren and sisters, let us spread 

The pacific tidings that God became revealed. 

Let us tell the truth to every man 

That God only loveth, that God is only good. 



LIFE-KXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BUSS GODLOVER. 21 

God only loveth in His all-embracing mind, 
God loveth with infinite love all of us. 

God loveth all His creatures and careth for them, 
God careth and God loveth since infinite past. 

God always favoreth our good aims, 
All our good endeavours and strivings for the 
good. 

Let us all aim at our true goal. 
Always aim at the good, and at love. 

Let us to all creatures wisely be good. 
Let us love mankind and, above all, God. 

As God, our eternal Father, is only good. 
We are originally good minds too. 

Brethren and sisters, know ye this truth. 
That God originateth only the good. 

But know ye also another truth. 
That evil originateth from Satan only. 

Disguised as our dear and beloved God, 

He hath belied, confused us like foolish children. 



22 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Brethren and sisters, let us come to light, 

Let us come to reason, and recognize the truth. 

Let us come to reason, bestowed on us by God, 
That pure and simple reason, the source of every 
truth. 

Clarify your minds, behold ye the truth ; 

It is Satan that perverteth, alas, your minds. 

With his confusing power he perverteth and 

obscureth 
Our reason, the endowment, presented us by God. 

Let us come to reason and know as our God : 
Our eternal Father who is only good. 

Let us come to reason, and let us love 

As our eternal Father our only loving God. 

Tell ye all the children that there is 
A Father who loveth them and never forgeteth 
them. 

Believe ye, dear brethren and sisters beloved. 
That there is a Father, that there liveth for us a 
God. 



LIFE-KXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 23 

Americans, Australians, Asiatics, Africans, 
Europeans, ye nations all on earth : 

Believe ye in God who only loveth us, 
Who loveth all of us as His dear children. 



24 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

CHAPTER III. 

In a love-letter young Mr. Godlover wrote to 
his girl that she was destined for him as wife. 
How this destiny was brought about, he sought 
to explain by mere natural law. That God had 
patronized their inclinations, in order to make 
them happy, and that this plan was spoiled, as 
they did not choose the good, this fact he did not 
know for long time. 

Brethren and sisters, believe ye all in God, 
Belief in God will save ye from painful doubts. 

Belief in God will save ye from struggles without 

end 
That by faith can easily be escaped. 

God is the mighty master of the universe 
As far as love and goodness are concerned. 

But as far as hate and sufferings occur, 
Satan is the inspirer, their only origin. 

By his evil might Satan bringeth, alas. 
Ruin and corruption into our life. 



LIFE-EXPERTENCES of MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 25 

But he cannot annihilate our hfe, 

For that is impossible ; and God inspireth us. 

God inspireth and sustaineth every mind, 
Every soul for everlasting life. 

Brethren and sisters, believe ye in God 
Who is our sustaining, eternal Father. 

God is our Saviour, our trusty guide 

Who in love embraces us. His dear children. 

Therefore, brethren and sisters, let us all love 

God, 
Let us lovingly hold God in our heart. 

Love ye God with deepest feelings and with 

conscious will, 
With reason and by action, with all your soul. 

Happiness will follow, when we thus love God, 
Happiness of ours and, above all, happiness oi 
God. 



26 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

When young Mr. Godlover became again 
acquainted with his beloved girl, he was very 
happy, for she was young, beautiful and very 
rich. But young Mr. Godlover could not make 
her an oral proposal of marriage. So it came 
about that he did not accomplish, what he other- 
wise easily would, since the girl loved him also 
very much. Moreover, as a sceptic he neither 
trusted her, nor did he believe in the necessary 
success of good actions. Thus he committed a 
grave misdeed, when he despondently and self- 
denyingly staked his life. To make the case still 
worse, he threatened his beloved girl with 
assassination. 

In order to settle the affair he declared to the 
girl that he would study medicine, if he could not 
win her, to become a physician of the poor and 
of herself, whenever she should fall into disease. 
Had he strictly kept this arrangement, he would 
probably have succeeded. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BUSS GODLOVER. 27 

Brethren and sisters, know ye the fact, 
Happiness always follows our good deeds. 

Let us always love with full consciousness, 
Heartily and gently each the other. 

Love ye your fathers and your mothers too, 
Love ye them in reverence and respect. 

Love ye your spouses and your relatives. 
Treat ye well all your fellowmen. 

Love ye them at least as ye would wish 

In their circumstances be treated yourselves. 



While ye are thus caring for the others' good. 
Do not loose ye, but love ye also yourselves. 

Respect ye yourselves, and take ye due regard 
Of your personal interests and desires too. 

Brethren and sisters, love wisely realized 
Will surely confer full happiness on ye. 

When then the long wished moment of happiness 

hath come, 
Enjoy it without prudery and without self-denial. 



28 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Let us enjoy happiness, let us happy be, 
As happiness of ours is happiness of God. 

God heartily wisheth that we may attain 
Happiness on earth, and bliss in the afterlife. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 29 

CHAPTER V. 

Immediately upon the renewal of his love- 
acquaintance, young Mr. Godlover observed the 
exceeding interest of the girl in his person. From 
this he concluded that she had not entirely for- 
gotten him, but had kept him in mind all the 
while. 

It is true that his attention had been called to 
this fact before. Had he been sincere and 
veracious at that time, he could easily have mar- 
ried her. But the way of his thinking was 
crooked and false, so that he could not attain 
what else he would. 

Brethren and sisters, seek ye to combine 
Always love with truth and discernment. 

Be ye faithfully and wisely good. 

That is the shortest w^ay leading to success. 

Truth or faithfulness means conformity. 
Especially between expression and thought. 

In ordinary cases and principally 
Refrain ye from untruth which confuseth and 
diverteth. 



30 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Rather be ye silent, than commit a lie 
Which necessity and love only would justify. 

Act ye with wisdom in that ye act 

According to good principles and good purposes. 

But principles use ye freely at different events, 
And for different situations differently employ. 

First find ye by judgment the purpose of the case. 
Then realize the best by the best means. 

If we act thus truly and wisely well. 

Then we surely act according to God's wish. 

God's actions and God's plans are only good. 
And in thus far God is perfectly true. 

But God is wisely true in His benevolence, 
He thinketh with true wisdom in His loving 
mind. 

Brethren and sisters, our happiness is assured, 
If we act according to the thoughts of God. 

God wisheth us true, judicious and good, 

Only for the sake of our happiness. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BUSS GODEOVER. 31 

CHAPTER VI. 

As wooer young Mr. Godlover was vain and 
ostentatious. He liked to show his learning, to 
play with phrases and to wear most modern gar- 
ments. Vanity was one of the gravest faults of 
his character. 

Thus young Mr. Godlover missed what he 
wanted, namely, his girl. 

Brethren and sisters, if ye wish to be 
Happy in your life, be ye in manners plain. 

Though caring for the outward, for beauty, tact 

and taste. 
Never exceed ye the golden middle way. 

Let us be plain, straightforward, yet gentle and 

polite. 
Thus we soonest shall succeed in our aims. 

But vanities forbear ye, as they divert the 

thoughts 
From the true and serious tasks of life. 

Forbear ye with full consciousness excess and 

vanities. 
For by all such vices Satan tempteth us. 



32 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Refuse ye the vain baits and lurings of Satan 
Immediately, at once, before it is too late. 

Perfidious are Satan's dealings with the lots oi 
men ; 

His greedy pleasures only spoil human happi- 
ness. 

Brethren and sisters, disregard ye them, 
Overcome ye Satan's pleasures, and save ye thus 
your souls. 

Be ye on your guard and have ye self-control. 
By judging and considering find ye the true good. 

Find ye 3^our final goal in the love of God. 
Who saveth us from troubles, from sufferings, 
and loss. 

In God we can rest safely and surely trust. 

Because God wisheth only our happiness. 

Brethren and sisters, trust ye all in God, 

Trust ye always and believe in God's pure love. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 33 

CHAPTER VII. 

Thus young Mr. Godlover could not succeed 
in his marriage-plan. He was also overcontem- 
plative, dilatory and suspicious. He thought his 
eirl was treacherous and fickle, while she was 
rather of a faithful character. 

Had he been confident, resolute and readily 
acting he had surely married her. 

Brethren and sisters, trust ye in others' faith, 
Confide ye each to the other with due respect. 

Do not hurt the feelings of your fellowmen 
By careless distrust and groundless doubts. 

Doubt is a mildew to freely active life, 

It blighteth the spirit and hampereth enterprise. 

The sceptic never fully reacheth happiness. 

Because he cannot find the goal of human life. 

Loving God by actions, loving God in heart, 
Will surely confer happiness on us. 

Brethren and sisters, let us all love God, 
Let us love God faithfully, and always trust in 
God. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OE MR. HUGH BUSS GODLOVER. 35 

BOOK IL 

CHAPTER I. 

Grieved by the mischief in his love-affair, 
young Mr. Godlover would end his life. Lastly, 
however, he decided to go to America, in order 
to help others to their happiness. 

Thus he went to San Francisco, where he 
would acquire wealth. But he failed in San 
Francisco, because he was not perfectly right- 
eous, nor patient enough. He then settled in 
Berkeley, where he took up studies in philosophy. 

Brethren and sisters, let us righteous be. 
Success will surely follow our righteous deeds. 

Success and righteousness necessarily are com- 
bined, 
Therefore the righteous man will always succeed. 

Be ye righteous knowingly and decidedly, 

Be ye righteous with patience and persistency. 

Be ye steadily righteous in all affairs of life. 
Righteous in your thinking, righteous in your 
deeds. 

Brethren and sisters, let us righteous be. 
Thus we shall surely attain full success. 



36 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

CHAPTER II. 

While there raged the great fire in San Fran- 
cisco, young Mr. Godlover read no newspapers, 
but studied his book. Neither did he visit the 
city's ruins, until he was invited by suffering 
friends. Before he came to see his friends, he 
bought exquisite refreshments which he pre- 
sented them, and though he had the money, he 
did not take regard of his own person. The 
reason he did not, was, because he thought the 
money was not entirely his own. He received 
money from his father, but did not use the whole 
sum for his own person. He laid aside a great 
part for other purposes, especially for presents 
to his relatives and for public welfare. For he 
said he was adult enough to support himself by 
his own means. 

But when they collected for a relief fund, he 
spent from the money, reserved for himself. 

Brethren and sisters, through love solely 
Will ye as reward achieve true happiness. 

Let us act lovingly by peaceful works, 
By charity and pity with our fellowmien. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 37 

If we follow God by actions of love, 
He can surely realize our happiness. 

Moreover our fellowmen, if treated by us well, 
Will favor our welfare in their gratitude. 

Therefore, happiness accompanies our loving 

acts, 
Who is good is happy, who loveth is blessed. 

Brethren and sisters, let us all be good. 

Then all we shall be happy and, above all, God. 



38 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

CHAPTER III. 

After his arrival at San Francisco young ]\Ir. 
Godlover many times left this city, in order to 
earn his living, which he could hardly do there, 
since he had not mastered the native language. 
He, therefore, also — far from prejudice — decided 
to do manual work, and as he would earn money 
by good means only, he tilled the ground, and 
worked in the orchards. He then went to the 
quarry of San Bruno to do common labor. But 
as he was of course not used to handle pick and 
shovel, they sent him to the crane. Here he 
was nearly killed by the machine, when he was 
grasped by its rapidly revolving crank, and 
vehemently thrust to the ground. So he had to 
quit this work, but the wages he gave to a poor 
man. 

Then he worked at Sacramento in a fruit-can- 
nery. There he also carried away the dirt from 
the factory, and swept the street. 

Thus he learned by his own experience the 
sufferings of the laborers. 

Brethren and sisters, be ye gentle and modest, 
And never proud nor haughty to your fellowmen. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 39 

Have ye pity with the sufferings of your fellow- 
men, 
Relieve ye their sorrows, soothe ye their aches. 

Help ye the poor and hungry, help ye the weak 

and sick. 
Part ye with them your food, part ye with them 

your means. 

For God also helpeth us, His children, 
God as a father supporteth each of us. 

God loveth the giants and the dwarfs, 

The weak and the strong, the poor and the rich. 

God inspireth and invigorateth all His children 
That they shall be saved in their struggles with 
Satan. 

God giveth them the means, God giveth them the 

wealth, 
God giveth them the power, God giveth them the 

health. 

God relieveth us from dangers, God relieveth us 

from pains, 
God relieveth us from cruelties, God relieveth us 

from foes. 



40 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

God possesseth the power, God knoweth the 
means 

To realize the happiness of His good children. 

Brethren and sisters, let us trust in God, 
God certainly helpeth us in all our affairs. 

Let us therefore prove our gratitude to God, 
Let us love God for His infinite love. 



UFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BUSS GODEOVER. 41 

CHAPTER IV. 

When Mr. Godlover lived in Europe, he had 
studied with great interest political economy. 
Modern legislations take regard of men's welfare 
chiefly from a private point of view. To reform 
the private system into a social one, many noble 
souls devoted their lives. But, alas, the means 
that they used were not always quite correct. 

Considering history and his own life-experi- 
ences, Mr. Godlover regards as means for solving 
the social problem peace and love. 

Brethren and sisters, love ye each of us, 
Love ye all of us and, above all, God. 

Love is the only safe way by which we shall 

succeed 
In founding public welfare, combined with our 

own. 

Workingmen, employers use ye peaceful means. 
When ye settle questions of mutual interest. 

Though without servility and rigidity, 

Obey ye the authorities and abide ye by the laws. 



42 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Communicate ye always in intelligence and love. 
In the spirit of love will problems best be solved. 

The spirit not the form is the essential of an act, 
Therefore, postpone ye ceremonies and formali- 
ties. 

Subdue ye also low emotions, envy and contempt. 
Haughtiness, covetousness, avarice and greed. 

Brethren and sisters, let us live in love, 
Since we are all children of our beloved God. 

Let us ahvays think and act in love. 
Let us love all of us and, above all, God. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 43 

CHAPTER V. 

To-day Mr. Godlover is convinced of such a 
grave mistake, as to prosecute and punish men 
for their misdeeds. For he thinks no able man 
would knowingly do wrong to his fellowmen. If, 
therefore, by weakness or unknowingly some 
men do wrong, they must not be punished, but 
ought to be healed and corrected. 

As most beneficial cure he regards the teaching 
of the true word of God. 

Brethren and sisters, forgive your fellowmen, 
Love ye each the other and in this way God. 

Ye surely satisfy the wishes of God, 
If ye realize solely the good. 

Let us all be good, let us useful be. 

Let us all work faithfully, and let us others help. 

Overcome ye temptations by good thoughts and 

loving deeds. 
Overcome ye enemies and wickedness in the 

spirit of love. 



44 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Overcome ye Satan's temptations, be ye strong 

enough, 
Be ye careful in your actions, be ye on your 

guard. 

Satan is always lurking to come and spoil 
Your welfare, and to poison your very soul. 

If, alas, some fall victims of Satan's attacks, 
Have ye pity with your brothers, do not blame 
them, but help. 

Do not shed the blood of brothers, do not injure 

their health, 
Do not bitter their feelings, do not hurt ye their 

souls. 

Forgive them their sins, for they are hardly in 

guilt, 
But surely is Satan guilty, while they sinned by 

mistake. 

Crimes are committed by weakness or mistake, 
And ought never to be punished, but corrected 
by good means. 

Heal ye the sinners, their body or soul, 
Their diseases, and bad habits of them. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 45 

Reeducate ye them, they are Hke children often 
Who need the loving parents, and wisely to be 
taught. 

Teach ye them readily the word of God, 
Be your feelings, thoughts and deeds always 
good. 



46 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Young Mr. Godlover once fell sick, so that he 
was near to die. He had lived as if man could 
eat and drink for pleasure and bodily culture 
without proper regard of his body's wants. When 
he contracted thus a serious disease, he learned 
the true meaning of bodily pains. Fortunately 
he did not use dangerous medicines, and not least, 
because of his strong will, soon recovered. 

But for his cure he had to thank, above all, 
God, because God had benignantly guided his 
thoughts. 

Brethren and sisters, always take ye care 
Of your body by adequate means. 

Prevent ye diseases by temperateness, 

By diet, regularity and avoidance of excess. 

Avoid ye overeating and improper food, 
Avoid ye every intoxication and sexual excess. 

Treat ye diseases by proper medicines, 
As, for example, fruits, music and sunshine. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 47 

Be ye in diseases good, willstrong and composed, 
By love, strong will and calmness is illness rather 
overcome. 

Bnt follow ye the prescriptions of wise physicians 

too; 
Obey ye prudently the laws of scientific hygiene. 

According to these laws and without prudery, 
Without false shame, nor ascetism conduct ye 
your life. 

God has designed the laws which ye ought to 

keep, 
In order that ye may well preserve your health. 

Health and beauty will be your rewards. 

If ye truly realize the rules advised by God. 

God is our wisest health-adviser, 

Follow ye God's advices, when ye sufifer pains. 

Brethren and sisters, believe ye in relief by God, 
And let us thank God for health and beauty. 

Let us all be healthy, let us all be strong, 
Let us all be dexter, fine and beautiful. 



48 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Health, beauty and virtue, combined in our life. 
Will bestow happiness on us and, therefore, on 
God. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BUSS GODLOVER. 49 

CHAPTER VII. 

When Mr. Godlover was young, his body was 
weak, his mind rather lax, and his character 
wavering. Hence he worked only with great 
difficulties, stumbled often at easy tasks, and 
frequently succumbed to temptations. 

Now, after much experience in his life, he is 
vigorous, steadily strong-minded and consciously 
good. This change he has gradually achieved by 
his own will, by science and, above all, with the 
help of God. 

Life is a sound school, if guided by God. 

Brethren and sisters, trust ye all in God, 
And have ye self-reliance and courage too. 

Be ye strong and diligent for a successful life. 
Choose a task that suits ye, but work it thor- 
oughly. 

Concentrate your forces, and spare them wisely 
By silence and directing them to the chosen task. 

Act ye by good habits, keeping at once in mind 
The end and the requirements of your task. 



50 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Work it resolutely and without delay, 

Act ye calmly, purposefully and with energy. 

Act ye gradually, without violence 

Of others' feelings, interests and of their rights. 

Respect ye their rights, abide ye by the laws, 
Fulfill ye your duties with faithfulness. 

When ye have thus duly fulfilled your work, 
Whatever may result from it, trust in success at 
last; 

Trust ye in God's infinite help. Rest ye peace- 
fully. 

Restore your health, delight yourselves after 
working time. 

Delight yourselves sublimely in benignancy, 
In kindness, favours, bounty and in charity. 

Hold ye love as guiding principle of your life. 
In the spirit of love ye always will succeed. 

Brethren and sisters, by goodness and by love 
Will ye surely achieve salvation of your soul. 

Surely this truth ye will find testified. 
If ye consider earnestly the facts of life. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 51 

Give ye never up this truth. Expiate misdeeds 
By beneficence, repentance and good wilhngness. 

Recompense ye injuries, bestow ye benefits, 
Regret ye wrongs sincerely, commit them never 
more. 

Have ye pity with the creatures, with their aches 

and woes. 
With languishing animals and grieving men. 

Refrain ye from cruelties to the animals. 
And inflict ye never pains to your fellowmen. 

Comfort ye with gladness, relieve ye readily 
Sufferers of whatever nation or creed. 

Love ye your fellowmen, be ye kind to them, 
Aim ye at the infinite love of God. 

God, our eternal Father, loveth all of us 

\\ ith infinite grace as children of His own. 

Therefore, brethren and sisters, let us all love 

God, 
Let us always love God w^ith all our heart. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 53 

BOOK IIL 

CHAPTER I. 

Life-experience and science have made Mr. 
Godlover a true believer and lover of God. When 
he was young, he did neither conceive God as 
solely good, nor did he clearly know the true 
origin of evil. Though he heard of Satan, yet he 
thought that Satan was but a superstition, or a 
poetical personification of the evil. He also 
imagined God as the allmight. Therefore, when 
he was struck with misery in his love-affair, he 
erroneously inferred that God was responsible 
for his sufferings. For, if God has an absolute 
might, then he can prevent persons from injuring 
others, else He is to blame for it. 

Now he has attained the true conception of 
God. He comprehends God as 
the infinite, good mind. 

Minds are individual or free beings, and possess 
as such activities and properties. God, as an 
infinite or perfect mind, is eternal, omnipresent, 
omniscient, universally powerful, self-sufficient 
and entirely self-secluded with regard to Satan. 
As self-identical and ever consistent with His 



54 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

properties God is perfectly true. The character- 
istic property of God is goodness. Goodness or 
love means producing, respecting and supporting 
minds. God, as only good, omniscient and per- 
fectly true, is perfectly wise, and the gracious 
protector and propagator of all science. God, as 
infinite and good, is the eternal Creator of all 
creatures. 

Creatures are thus derived from God. They 
are, therefore, minds, and virtually equal in their 
endowments to God, their original producer. 
Especially they all possess as their characteristic 
property goodness. But in fact all their activities 
and properties are impaired at their very begin- 
ning by Satan's infinite, evil power. Creatures 
become thus infinitesimals. In order to actualize 
their virtually perfect endowments God, contin- 
uing His creation-work, leads them by love to 
co-operation. Co-operation takes place in the 
form of bodies. Embodied creatures are aggre- 
gates of a vast number of finite minds wdth one 
as their principal, namely, the soul. Through 
self-love, love of their mates, offspring and 
environment, souls come to cherish love for 
other minds, and thus, along with the develop- 
ment of their thinking faculty, gradually 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 55 

become conscious of this tlieir truly characteristic 
property, and, above all, the love of God. When 
this goal is reached, then the main task of the 
embodied life is fulfilled, the salvation of the soul 
secured, and the pure mind can easily develop 
without the body's aid and encumbrance in an 
infinite progress. For creatures, though deter- 
mined as to their beginning, have an everlasting, 
future life, as God preserves them for-ever. Since 
all creatures, in their infinite mass, are by origin 
good, therefore always tending to their original 
character, and regularly preserving it, so that 
even thence God's might prevails in the universe ; 
moreover, as every mind is free, a hell, in the 
meaning of a vast, compulsory abode, does not 
exist. Thus depraved minds have also in their 
afterlife always the freedom to become good, 
and they will become so, if they are willful and 
intelligent enough. For pure, good minds live in 
blessedness; they enjoy the most pleasant experi- 
ences. Therefore men ought to prepare by study 
and social intercourse for a happy afterlife. 
Embodied life is thus of the greatest importance, 
and this the more as embodiment only once 
occurs. According to God's design a happy life 
is quite possible also during embodiment; for. 



56 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

not only God patronizes good persons ; but 
creatures too, by their own will, thankfully pro- 
mote the success of their benefactors. Hence 
men who live on earth in accordance with God's 
benignant intentions, and follow His wise coun- 
sels, at last always enjoy happiness. From 
goodness thus follows happiness. God as only 
good is, therefore, the author of happiness only. 

Misery and pains are consequences of evil, 
which means spoiling, despising, and hindering 
minds. Satan as the infinite, evil mind is the 
eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, and universally 
mighty cause of corruption, disgrace, and ob- 
struction. Satan as an only evil being is ever 
lurking for victims. Creatures because of their 
determinate begin are necessarily exposed to the 
attacks of Satan. These, however, can never 
result in total destruction. Annihilation of crea- 
tures is impossible ; moreover God supports them 
for-ever. But creatures, even after having risen 
from their formerly infinitesimal state by devel- 
opment of their faculties, suffer yet further from 
Satan's aggressions, so that some of them on 
account of his confusions erroneously seek to 
maintain themselves by doing evil to others, 
which, however, results in reciprocal and var- 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 57 

iously differentiated pains. The purpose of 
Satan's confusions is destruction even of his own 
followers. 

Finite minds are originally good, as is also 
proved by the moral feeling, more or less always 
abiding in men, and by the instinct of self-preser- 
vation. But they have freedom to choose the 
good or evil. Those who are good follow God, 
and attain happiness, while the deceived follow- 
ers of Satan suffer from their own misdeeds. The 
vast mass of finite minds called "nature" act 
almost unconsciously. Creatures choosing with 
true consciousness, therefore, only the good, and 
hence their happiness are but among those who 
have attained to a higher mental stage. 

God's might predominates in the universe. This 
truth is conveyed by the fact that development is 
prevalent everywhere ; and not only vital develop- 
ment, but also actuaHzation of the ethical prop- 
erty, as the latter conditions life at all. Creatures 
thus improving in their character, contribute to 
the might of God that supports them in their 
struggles with that of Satan, and furthers their 
progress. Therefore, a cheerful view of life is 
justified. 



58 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Brethren and sisters, let ye all be taught 
That in truth God is the infinite, good mind. 

God is a mind, God is an intellect, 
God is a person, who feels and thinks. 

God has been since unbounded past, 
God is present, God everlastingly will be. 

God is the Creator for eternal times 
Of all finite minds in the universe. 



God loveth all His creatures, always aiding them 
iieir St 
death. 



In their struggles with Satan that aimeth at their 



God knoweth all His creatures, all their suffer- 
ings, 
All their cravings, strivings, all their needs. 

God satisfieth them by the best means, and sus- 

taineth them 
In every situation and at every time. 

God hath infinite power for all finite minds. 
Living throughout the infinite scores of worlds. 



IjFE-EXPeRlENCES Or MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 59 

God protecteth and promoteth them, so that they 

may progress 
Embodied and in their pure-spiritual hfe. 

God only loveth them, for God is only good, 
God feeleth but sorrows at their sins. 

God never punisheth them for committed sins, 
God only pitieth and forgiveth misdoings. 

But it is Satan, alas, that injureth men, 
He pitiless suppresseth, and cheateth them. 

From faintness and confusion God leads His 

creatures on 
To power and enlightenment by the way of love. 

When minds have thus attained to full conscious- 
ness, 

To reason and to wisdom, then they know the 
good. 

Then they know how to choose it during their 

earth-life. 
And yet more easily hereafter as unembodied 

minds. 

According to your conviction choose ye the good, 
And without vow or stiff obligement realize ye it. 



60 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

That ye may be able to choose in truth the good. 
Diligently study ye, and gain experiences. 

God giveth ye for improvements opportunities, 
Avail yourselves of them that ye might succeed. 

But in good acts only will ye success attain. 
Because God patronizeth good plans exclusively. 

God favoreth and furthereth the welfare of all 

men, 
Therefore by love solely is success assured. 

Brethren and sisters, freely can ye choose 

The good, with which is bound success and hap- 
piness. 

The goods to be attained by men are different 

indeed, 
They differ as there differ men themselves. 

But there is one good attainable by men, 
By every soul, namely, love of God. 

Love of God will lead to all good acts, 

And, therefore, bestow on us always happiness. 

Happiness on earth, happiness hereafter, 
Happiness of ours and, therefore, happiness of 
God. 



IjFE-EXPERlENCi:s OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 61 

CHAPTER II. 

And it came to pass that young Mr. Godlover 
undertook his work for the sake of mankind. But 
for a long time he only dimly knew that God 
guided him with providence. By considering 
past events he became fully convinced of this 
truth. 

God in His perfect wisdom foresees the future, 
though of course only as most probable, because 
of Satan's counteractions, and as finite minds act 
with freedom. 

God is our eternal Father who with providence 
For our welfare always graciously careth. 

God knoweth all His children, all their needs, 
God knoweth their longings and endeavorings. 

God perfectly knoweth their development. 

The entire past of them and most probable future. 

God in His love, therefore, accordingly provideth 
The best means for the needs of His children. 

Brethren and sisters, apply ye all to God 
Of whose perfectly wise advice ye can avail your- 
selves. 



62 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

When ye are distressed or before grave decisions, 
Ask ye God consciously for His kind advice. 

That ye may readily receive God's inspirations. 
Seclude ye from the world, and strongly concen- 
trate yourselves. 

But be yourselves at once open, in peace and 

harmony, 
Be ye kindhearted, and good, that God may guide 

your thoughts. 

While thus susceptible of inspired thoughts, 
Think ye at once for yourselves and definitely. 

Discriminate, and follow ye what ye are con- 
vinced of. 

To be your better inner voice ; that realize ye 
resolutely. 

God in His infinite love will surely then provide 
The best that fits to your success and wellbeing. 

Therefore, brethren and sisters, let us thankful be 
To our gracious God for His providing love. 



LiFE-EXPERlENCfiS OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 63 

CHAPTER III. 

Before Mr. Godlover had recognized the true 
meaning of this hfe, he did not know what God 
wishes men to do, that their conduct should be 
good. He thought men had chiefly to struggle 
for the preservation of the body, further to beget 
children, in order to preserve themselves and 
mankind for the future. The pleasures resulting 
from these actions he regarded as the most of 
human happiness. He did not believe in an ever- 
lasting afterlife. Therefore, he did not know that 
according to God's intentions men have to submit 
their conduct to higher principles. 

But now, after having attained to truth, he 
considers quite differently the tasks of men's life 
on earth. As the embodiment of finite minds has 
for its purpose the realization of their virtually 
boundless endowments, especially the achieve- 
ment of consciousness of their original property, 
namely, love and, above all, the love of God, he 
regards as principal life-task the cultivation of the 
faculties of the soul. Men ought to acquire dur- 
ing their life on earth ethical values, for these 
constitute the conditions for a happy, everlasting 



64 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

afterlife. Further a most general education is of 
the greatest importance. The acquisition of 
bodily cjualities and material wealth are but of 
secondary interest, namely, as necessary means 
for attaining and exercising the intellectual prop- 
erties. The individual that succeeds in these 
tasks, ought further to transmit his properties to 
an offspring, and to promote the tendencies of his 
environment in the same direction. 

Well educated persons who hav^e thus fulfilled 
the duties of their earthly life, are prepared for 
a happy, pure-spiritual life, into which they may 
pass over with perfect equanimity, after sufficient 
enjoyment of the pleasures of this world. Death 
under such conditions ought, therefore, not at all 
to be dreaded, but rather be regarded as true 
birth, as birth in a wider and holy environment, 
the heaven. Here the soul can enter with the 
most cheerful hopes, for above such pleasures as 
full recognition of truth, and free intercourse with 
highly cultivated intellects, blessedness is attained 
by a pure-spiritual, loving relationship to God. 

Brethren and sisters, fully use ye the chance, 
Given ye by God to educate your minds. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 65 

While ye are yet living embodied on earth, 
Accomplish ye the development of your faculties. 

Though this task may be often difficult. 
Never be despondent in aiming at your goal. 

The eternal goal is worthy surely by all means, 
Sacrificing earthly pleasures in the case of choice. 

Attain ye to intelligence while yet in this life, 
Cultivate your faculties, refine ye your minds. 

Discipline your will, purify your soul. 
Acquire ye properties of everlasting worth. 

Recognize ye consciously the precious property, 
Entailed on ye by God, namely, love. 

Love ye men and yourselves, but above all, God, 
Love of God will bestow happiness on ye. 



66 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

WMiile Mr. Godlover was writing this work, 
he had often to struggle hard to overcome Satan. 
But he succeeded by his strong will, by scientific 
knowledge, and, above all, by the help of God. 
God gave him the power, God inspired him with 
good thoughts, so that he could overcome Satan. 

Whosoever constantly follows God, this soul 
God can promote in achieving succsss. Finite 
minds act freely in choosing the good, therefore 
they themselves, principally, determine and jus- 
tify their fate. Indeed, all finite minds suffer from 
Satan's temptations, the possibly corrupting influ- 
ence of their surroundings, and the inherited sin- 
ful tendencies, so that their freedom is really often 
very precarious. But since they also enjoy the 
virtuous properties entailed on them, and often 
the advantages of an improving environment, 
every imperfection can, without insuperable diffi- 
culties, be amended by strength of will and 
knowledge, whereas Satan's evil might is over- 
come with the help of God. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 67 

Brethren and sisters, by energetic will 
May ye overcome evil and sin. 

Satan is the origin of all evil in the world, 

All vices and temptations originate from him. 

With Satan converse ye never, but if he tempteth 

ye, 

Be your will strong, know ye clearly the peril. 

Will and knowledge are requisite indeed 
That ye may succeed in any of your works. 

But most important for success and indispensible 
Are God's grace and blessing. His infinite love. 

God favoreth His creatures, for God is only good, 
God never tempteth them whose character He 
knoweth. 

The character of all creatures is originally good. 
And God inspireth loving thoughts exclusively in 
them. 

Brethren and sisters, believe ye in God's love. 
Thank ye God, and love ye God with all your 
soul. 



68 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

CHAPTER V. 

When the sad disaster of San Francisco came 
to pass, most of the inflicted inhabitants of this 
city had indulged in wickedness. Therefore, they 
freely submitted to Satan, so that he could 
entangle them in the effects of the catastrophe. 
But righteous people came to loss by their 
obstinacy, notwithstanding the benignant warn- 
ings of God. Yet it was imagined by many 
people that God was the cause of the misery. 
For God they erroneously supposed is omnipo- 
tent, hence He could avert the calamity. 

The truth, however, is that events in nature are 
the results of many factors, especially of those 
finite minds that act but in dim consciousness. 
They, therefore, almost passively submit them- 
selves either to God's benevolent guidance, or to 
the malevolent perversions of Satan till this 
behaviour becomes regular and established law. 
On these grounds natural events and miracles 
have to be explained. 

Natural events are thus only as far as they 
tend to beneficence, the expressions of God's 
wisdom. Satan's corrupting activities involved 
in such occurrences cannot, however, afflict with 



LIFE-EXPSRIENCES OF MR. HUGH BUSS GODLOVER. 



69 



misery righteous men, because God by His wise 
means withholds them from dangers, or if they 
nevertheless arbitrarily go into, God lets them, 
as all His creatures, escape from injuries, and in 
any case alleviates their sufferings. God never 
punishes, and never smites men by disasters. 

Brethren and sisters, God is only good, 

God is the author of only good effects. 

God createth minds, God sustaineth them, 
God relieveth them in dangers, and assuageth 
their pains. 

But evil and disasters in the universe 

Are only caused by Satan's corrupting might. 

He enticeth men by vain and void allurements. 
In order to corrupt them with perfidiousness at 
last. 

Therefore, brethren and sisters, be ye on your 

guard, 
Refuse ye all temptations, avoid ye vanities. 

If ye wisely follow God's faithful advice, 
Ye will never be entangled in dangers and dis- 
tress. 



70 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

God keepeth ye off from dangers by a good inner 

voice, 
And by inspirations, transmitted by good minds. 

Brethren and sisters, trust ye in God's help, 
What God does, that is well done; trust ye in 
God's love. 

God is our infinitely mighty benefactor, 

God is our eternal Father who only loveth us. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OE MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 



71 



CHAPTER VI. 

After the failure in his love-affair, young Mr. 
Godlover was on the verge of suicide. But when 
he was about to perform his plan, God saved 
miraculously his life in the right moment. By 
the voice of a good soul, God gave him to know 
that he could be helped. When he quite suddenly 
heard this voice, he refrained from further steps. 

God manifests Himself by receptive, good 
minds. Such minds submit themselves to the 
control of God. Therefore they realize by their 
acts mostly the inspirations of God. 

Brethren and sisters, let us follow God, 
God is our guide and aid in every distress. 

God knoweth our griefs and our agonies, 
God knoweth the means also for comfort and 
relief. 

God useth the best means, He useth them with 

the care 
Of a heartilv Sfood father for us. His children. 



72 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

If we act according to God's fatherly advice, 
We can hope with cheerfiUness for redemption 
and redress. 

Let us be attentive and judicious, 

In order to recognize counsels of God. 

Let us be judicious and distinguish them 
From Satan's falsities, misleadings and deceits. 

Through the voice of some of His followers 
God expresseth sometimes more clearly His 
thoughts. 

Let us associate the followers of God, 
Let us choose good persons only as teachers and 
as friends. 

They can act as organs of God's inspiring might, 
They are the favoured media often of God's per- 
fectly wise thoughts. 

As media they are fallible ; therefore examine 
their word ; 

Believe it, if ye find it true ; the good faith, how- 
ever, respect ye. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 12) 

Respect ye and acknowledge ye the true counsels 

of them, 
Accept ye them as guides to your happiness.. 

Happiness will follow, if ye take regard 

Of their admonition, the kind advice of God. 

God advises men to live in harmony, 

To assist each other, to co-operate in peace. 

To realize the good, from which always proceeds 
Their happiness on earth as well, as everlastingly 
hereafter. 

Therefore, brethren and sisters, let us always 

love. 
And let us love all for the sake of our God. 



74 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Mr. Godlover had once read in some book of a 
new type of man. The character of these new 
men would become estabhshed, if men would 
renounce all their bad habits, but preserve and 
explicate their good ones, and thus become per- 
fectly good. 

That in the near future a better type of man, 
than that of to-day will be raised. Mr. Godlover 
considers as readily verifiable. For it is evident 
that men will excellently improve, if their con- 
duct is guided by God, as they have received from 
God the rules for a truly good life. God knows 
what is best fitted for men's welfare ; therefore 
men ought to respect God's counsel. 

According to God's fatherly admonition mod- 
ern men have to correct the principles, by which 
they rule their conduct. The main features of 
such a reform would have to consist as follows. 

It ought to be clear to all men what the 
purpose of this earthly life is. The main purpose 
of the embodiment of the soul is that men may 
realize themselves, especially become conscious 
of their original and characteristic quality, name- 
ly, goodness for a full enjoyment of the ever- 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 75 

lasting life hereafter. To this principal purpose 
all the problems of human life have to be sub- 
mitted. Therefore, firstly and immediately, an 
adequate change of the present educational sys- 
tem is urgently necessary ; as abandoning the 
regular study of dead languages, and adoption of 
a universal language ; further reducing the study 
of unimportant disciplines. The time thus won 
ought to be employed especially for a more inten- 
sive, ethical education. 

The second main point of the reform is to bring 
about a change of man's present hygienic rules, 
namely, restriction and gradual abandoning of 
any meat-diet, but, on the other side, full appre- 
ciation of the physiological benefits available by 
fruit and cereal nutriments; also gradual aban- 
doning of intoxicating drinks, tobacco and other 
mistakes, for all of which measures, even more 
ethical and social reasons categorically appeal. 
Private interests involved in these reforms should 
be compensated ])y public funds. 

The third main point of the reform consists in 
the lawful introduction of the social state, as, 
e. g., by a proper derogation of the laws of pri- 
vate inheritance. The legislative steps relating 
to this point should thus respect the at present 



16 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

existing facts. Careful regard should be taken of 
private interests, of the individual's feelings, etc. ; 
but immediately wars should be abandoned, and 
also public institutions immediately introduced 
for correcting criminals by ethical and thera- 
peutic means. A system grounded on direct eco- 
nomic co-operation of men should be decided 
upon by an international congress. The further 
legislation concerning this point should be the 
task of the national authorities. 

The fourth point of the reform is that every 
man may have his living guaranteed by the state 
of which he is a citizen. The duty on the side of 
the citizen would be to perform the work 
assigned to him by the authorities of the state. 
The work to be done by the citizens should be in 
accord with their individuality and sex. Every 
citizen who has fulfilled his work should receive 
a credit for such goods as would suit with his 
intellectual and bodily wants. By these regula- 
tions diseases and crimes would be diminished to 
the utmost. 

The fifth point of the reform refers to the 
matrimonial problem. Marriages should be per- 
mitted and favored by the authorities with careful 
regard to personal freedom and public welfare. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 77 

The sanctity of matrimonial covenants, the free- 
dom in their dissolving, and monogamy, as far as 
existing already, should be fully respected. 

The principles of freedom with respect to 
creed, scientific tenet, and political opinion ought 
as well to be legislatively recognized, as the duty 
of the authorities by proper means to clear up the 
errors of the individual. 

The great beneficial consequences of such a 
reform are surely to follow. General prosperity 
of mankind will be its effect, happiness of men 
during this life, happiness in their afterlife and, 
above all, happiness of God. 

Brethren and sisters, accept ye the advice, 
Given unto ye benignantly by God. 

God in His omniscience knoweth perfectly 
Your deficiencies and the means for your salva- 
tion. 

Trust ye all in God, follov^ ye God's advice 

Whose fatherly wish it is to establish your happi- 
ness. 

Therefore, brethren and sisters, let us co-operate 
For personal salvation and that of mankind. 



78 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

Live ye in peace, live ye in joy, 
Live ye always in joyful peace. 

Love ye your neighbour, love ye him 
By heartily feelings, thoughts and deeds. 

Care ye for their bodily and mental wellbeing; 
Care ye for your ov^n health by proper means. 

Forgive ye the outlaws their misdeeds. 
Correct ye their erroVs in a loving way. 

Correct ye your children, improve ye them ; 
Improve ye your own persons and know ye the 
truth. 

Brethren and sisters, parents and children, 
Husbands and wives, strangers and relatives ; 

Citizens and neighbors, authorities and subjects: 
Meet ye with respect and work ye in the spirit 
of love. 

Love ye each the other, love ye heartily, 
Love ye with reason, love ye by deeds. 

If ye love each other, ye love also God ; 

Love ye and respect ye God your eternal Father. 



LIFE-EXPERIENCES OF MR. HUGH BLISS GODLOVER. 79 

Surely happiness will follow from the love of 
God; 

Happiness of ours and, above all, happiness of 
God. 



Part III 



The System of the Divine 
Religion. 

INTRODUCTION. 

The chief principle of the Divine Religion is 
love of God. Love of God leads to all other good 
actions. Happiness is always consequent to good 
actions, therefore its establishment requires a 
good conduct. Men are good if they aim to pro- 
duce lives, or respect and support either their 
own or others'. The others may include a more 
or less limited circle, which men have the free- 
dom themselves to determine. They ought to do 
this consciously and with reason, so that their 
actions may be guided by principles. Persons 
whose conduct is guided by clear principles, can 
to some degree foresee their success. 

Men are finite beings, while God is infinite. 
Hence the field of man's activity is different from 
that of God's. Men's activity is restricted to 
limits which will vary according to their char- 
acter, and the aim of their actions. Mankind 
constitutes the widest social group. Welfare of 
mankind will, therefore, be a rather remote goal 



84 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

of men's actions. But within that group stand 
others, as race, nation, the circle of friends, and 
the family that thus form less distant limits for 
men's conduct. How far men ought to trans- 
cend or to restrict these limits, depends on cir- 
cumstances. Principally avoiding of cruelty to 
animals and of a narrow egoism will in ordinary 
cases direct men to the good action. 

Persons who act well, act in accordance with 
God, as God is only good. But as God is a self- 
sufficient being, men can realize their love of 
God directly only by respecting Him, whereas 
indirectly also by aiming to generate, or by 
respecting and supporting creatures and them- 
selves, actions which they will choose in practical 
life according to principles. Good actions con- 
sistently and persistently pursued will bestow 
happiness on men and, therefore, also on God. 



THE SYSTEM OF THE DIVINE RELIGION. 85 

A. Fundamental Conceptions and Their 
Proof. 

The fundamental conceptions of the Divine 
ReHgion are those of God, the creatures and 
Satan. 

The reahty of God is proved, since an infinite, 
intelligent cause of the universe that corresponds 
to the religious sentiments cherished by men evi- 
dently exists. For, firstly, every effect has its 
cause ; secondly, the universe as an effect exhibits 
wise design; further, the idea of infinitude, being 
recognized by the human mind, presupposes as an 
attribute also the substance to which it adheres. 
Moreover, answering man's religious longings, 
an inner voice slightly but categorically assures 
him that this being is God ; a voice that under 
proper conditions raises to clearer inspirations, 
and at times to a revelation of God. 

That man himself is real and an individual 
being, follows from his very thinking and will- 
determinations, whereas his alliance to all other 
creatures is obvious from the fact of evolution. 
This relationship, at once, verifies the proposition 
that creatures have a common origin, namely, 



86 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

God. As God is the originator and wise designer 
of creatures, and therefore essentially good; 
moreover, since creatures themselves, as offspring 
of God, are originally also good, neither from 
God nor the creatures can evil originate, for that 
were wholly inconsistent with the character of 
both, and at once a flagrant violation of the law 
of contradiction, in accordance with which all 
sound reasoning proceeds. 

But the same logical law clearly implies also 
the proof of the existence of Satan, as the 
originator of evil, which truth is corroborated by 
the fact that creatures are finite, though their 
originator is infinite. 



THE SYSTEM OF THE DIVINE RELIGION. 87 

I. THE CONCEPTION OF GOD. 

God is the infinite, good mind. 

God is a mind or individual being. Every 
mind is active, thus also God. God's activity is 
only good, because God's character is entirely 
good or holy. God, because of His goodness, is 
the continuous creator of all creatures whom He 
respects, furthers and sustains for-ever. God, in 
His kind feelings, sympathizes with His crea- 
tures, and has for them only love, sorrow and 
pity. He loves them, as a father loves his chil- 
dren, and feels sorrows with the wicked that He 
but pities and never punishes. God as an infinite 
mind, having neither beginning, nor a limit in 
future, is eternal. He is therefore since boundless 
times creating His creatures, and in His infini- 
tude realizes for them His inspiring power 
throughout the universe. God, as an infinite or 
perfect, and only good mind thinks perfectly and 
truly. God in His infinite personality is omni- 
present, inspiring all creatures, and immanently 
conversing with them ; thence He is omniscient. 
As a perfect intellect God is provident also, but 
as far as providence is possible with regard to 
minds whose character is signified by freedom, as 



88 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

a primordial principle. God thinks perfectly truly, 
because He is always consistent with Himself, 
namely, perfectly good ; but God is with perfect 
judgment good or perfectly wise, and in so far 
perfectly just, because His creatures, in conse 
quence of their freedom, have different characters 
that are recognized by God. 



THE SYSTEM OF THE DIVINE RELIGION. 89 

II. THE CONCEPTION OF CREATURES. 

Creatures are finite, originally good minds. 

Creatures are minds, because God originates 
them of His own substance. He originates them 
necessarily so and not out of nothing, as nothing 
does not exist. God creates them free, because 
God Himself as a mind is individual. All crea- 
tures are originally good, because of their origin 
from God; but as to their faculties they are 
actually finite, notwithstanding their originator 
Himself is infinite. Creatures become finite at 
their very creation, because of the suppressing 
counteraction of Satan. Creatures are thus at 
their origination not only infinitesimals, but in 
this weakness also confused. While they, there- 
fore, are wavering with regard to their character- 
istic quality, though at once tending to it because 
of its original possession, the infinite multitude of 
them, for the very latter reason, principally pre- 
serve the inherited goodness by habits, and only 
exceptionally some of them fall, having become 
habitually depraved in their character that all 
transmit to their descendants. 

But God in His infinite wisdom has for His 
creatures designed the way by which their poten- 



90 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

tially as perfect inherited faculties can, in an 
infinite progress, l)ecome actualized, namely, by 
love. It is a way gloomy at its starting, weari- 
some during its passage, which is often indeed a 
passing through thorns and thistles, but eternal 
light : happiness and bhss beckon at its goal. 
Love leads creatures together, so that they may 
co-operate, as co-operation strengthens the indi- 
viduals. Primitive and simple is this co-opera- 
tion at first, and easily soluble the communion. 
But complicated and refined become the co-oper- 
ative bodies, the higher creatures ascend in the 
course of evolution. These co-uperative bodies 
consist of minds among which one, as ruling 
principal, constitutes the soul. By ruling the 
body in self-love embodied souls learn to develop 
their virtually infinite capacities, the explication 
of which reaches higher levels in the sexual, 
parental and patriotic love, but foremost in a 
love corresponding to the most lofty Divine love. 
Souls who have attained an actual possession of 
a sufficient fund of real values, especially have 
achieved consciousness of their original property, 
love, and, above all, the love of God, may thus 
strengthened and improved in character, inde- 



THE SYSTEM OF THE DIVINE RELIGION. 91 

pendently develop after solution of the bodily 
union in their afterlife. 

Creatures have an everlasting life, because God 
in His goodness and by His infinite power pro- 
tects them for-ever against the attacks of Satan. 
Only their embodied life has a limited future, and 
it ceases, when the harmoniously concatenated 
assemblage of minds, as represented by the living 
body, is solved at death. Thus the soul is freed 
from its former connection, and commences 
immediately an everlasting, pure-spiritual life, as 
embodiment only once occurs. Neither does 
reincarnation take place, nor have souls a pre- 
existence, but they come to existence only by 
reproduction of their parents of whose substance 
they consist, and whom they therefore resemble. 
The afterlife of good souls is happy, for happiness 
always follows goodness. Of sensual pleasures 
they are then of course incapable, but they delight 
in pleasures flowing from the activities of the 
pure mind. Their activity varies according to the 
stage of development they have attained to, and 
consciously good souls will partake as angels of 
God's eternal, holy work in supporting finite 
minds, relieving them from sufiferings and fur- 
thering of their good endeavours. Such loving 



92 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

deeds, and an unconstrained intercourse with rel- 
atives, friends, or highly intelligent minds, more- 
over, an all-comprehensive recognition of truth, as 
only possible after becoming free from the bodily 
encumbrance and diversions, but, above all, a 
pure, loving relationship to God, contribute to 
render the unembodied life of good souls truly 
happy. Since minds have always freedom to 
choose the good or evil, and even for this reason 
a hell in the sense of a compulsory, penitentiary 
abode, for everlasting damnation, does not exist, 
depraved minds, who of course suffer from their 
evil-doing, will if they are willstrong and intelli- 
gent enough in fact become good, and enjoy the 
bliss and harmony, swaying in the realm of God, 
the heaven. The infinite space is predominantly 
heaven, since the infinite number of finite minds, 
as derived from God, are originally good ; and, 
moreover, the most influential finite minds are 
truly conscious, hence actually good. Thus God's 
might prevails over that of Satan. This truth is 
also evident from the fact that finite minds live, 
and in the main progress. 



THE SYSTEM OF THE DIVINE RELIGION. 93 

III. THE CONCEPTION OF SATAN. 

Satan is the infinite, evil mind. Satan as an 
infinite mind is an eternal, omnipresent, omnis- 
cient, and universally mighty, individual being. 
Satan's activity is only evil, which means deprav- 
ing, despising and hindering minds. The victims 
of Satan's activity are the creatures, because they 
have begin. God as an infinite mind is entirely 
secluded from Satan, and in His goodness sup- 
ports His creatures for-ever. The attacks of 
Satan on them can, therefore, never result in their 
annihilation, but tempted and confused by Satan, 
and then following him, creatures do evil to 
themselves or others, which always has misery 
and pains as consequences for either part. 

Careless concentrating the thoughts on Satan 
disturbs, and exposes to illness. Therefore men, 
though being conscious of Satan's activity, and 
well on their guard, may avoid that grave danger, 
and peacefully rest in God, their infinitely mighty, 
and truly loving benefactor. 



94 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

B. The Love of God. 

Love of God ought to be the chief reason of all 
human actions, for God as the originator of men 
whom He respects and supports as a father, 
deserves indeed above all their love as thanks. 
Men ought to love God faithfully and in all con- 
ditions of hfe. Men can love God directly by 
loving God Himself, or indirectly by loving His 
creatures, and thus acting in accordance w^ith 
God's intentions. 



I. THE VENERATION OF GOD. 

As God is a self-sufficient mind men can realize 
their love to God directly only by respecting 
Him. God ought to be respected by men prop- 
erly. In attending upon God decency ought to be 
observed, and tactful regard to be taken of God's 
feelings. Men with judgment will, therefore, 
doubtless avoid degrading servility as well, as 
distasteful flatteries and absurd assertions, or 
other displeasing utterances. In conversations 
with God expression will be given to honoring 



THE SYSTEM OF THE DIVINE RELIGION. 95 

salutations, sincere thanks, sorrowful repentance 
of committed misdeeds, or reasonable wishes will 
be communicated ; frequently, indeed, also God's 
counsel will be sought. 

The forms of expressing veneration of God will 
vary according to locality and time. As regular 
time for a private communion with God the 
morning and resting hours are most fit, and for 
short thanksgivings the meal times might be 
chosen. Extraordinarily and rather ceremon- 
iously thanks to God will be given, and His 
blessings and consolation prayed for at such 
remarkable events as birth, marriage and death ; 
further public homage to God may be paid, and 
edification of worshippers cnscinhlc be accom- 
plished at resting and festival days. As chief 
part of public worship a poetical-musical liturgy 
will prove desirable, whereas in private inter- 
course with God men, as God's descendants, will 
respectfully, but most familiarly express their 
thoughts and emotions. God is omnipresent, 
therefore everywhere accessible to men for a 
parental intercourse. Men wishing God's coun- 
sel, especially at occasions of grave importance, 
in deep depression and distress, or in exulting 
felicity will seek their eternal Progenitor solitar- 



% PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

ily; but for regular veneration the family circle 
at home and the worshippers' congregation in 
public buildings will suit. While worship of the 
family mejubers by the head of the family might 
be directed, orderly public worship will evidently 
require the conduct by thoroughly learned and 
well-experienced persons ; persons who have de- 
voted their life to the most responsible, and 
therefore to be highly honored office of teaching 
men, how to love God. 



11. THE LOVE OF CREATURES. 

Men can love God indirectly by love of His 
creatures. Then they will realize their love of 
God by generating of an offspring, or by respect- 
ing and supporting themselves, and their sur- 
roundings. The latter on whom the self will 
bestow his love, may belong to the circles of his 
family, friends, nation, race, mankind, and to 
the rest of finite minds. The reasonably acting 
self will choose the beloved others according to 
principles that will be determined by considera- 
tions of gratitude to his beloved, their moral 



THE SYSTEM OF THE DIVINE RELIGION. 97 

worth or his natural inchnation to them, and 
correspond to the horizon of his inteUigence. A 
noble and wise intellect will embrace in love all 
feeling creatures, and with judicious regard of 
their psychic and physiological peculiarity differ- 
entiate his loving actions ; but he will also recog- 
nize the fact that love of others regularly pre- 
supposes love of himself. Besides, by self-respect, 
the latter condition is fulfilled by a rational 
satisfaction of one's bodily and spiritual wants. 
Avoiding of course whatever hypochondriac ex- 
cess and without false shame, every person ought 
to acquire an adequate knowledge of the bodily 
constitution, and under the guidance of wise 
physicians properly care for the health. But 
more yet, men's intellectual development requires 
a loving counsel, for there the danger that men, 
misled and confused will miss the true goal of 
life and thus their happiness, is very imminent. 
Persons who by a wisely directed education, 
combined with independent, thorough thinking, 
energetic self-discipline, and practical experience 
have attained to a virtuous character, will be 
most fit to succeed in life themselves and to pro- 
mote others' happiness. They will then be loving 
and beloved children, spouses, and parents as well. 



98 PACIFIC TIDINGS. 

as faithful friends, desirable citizens, and benevo- 
lent defenders of their race ; further with interest 
partake of the progress of mankind, and also have 
feelings for their lower fellovz-creatures. Lastly 
after a successful embodied life they will enter 
the everlasting afterlife as angels. 

The cases in which wise men will find it imper- 
ative to risk their health and life for the sake of 
beloved others, or because of self-respect or lack 
of means for self-support, will rarely occur, and 
quite exceptionally self-sacrifice in fact. By care- 
ful circumspection it will be possible to avoid 
dangers, and in the spirit of love to settle such 
conflicts, because God, assisted by all good crea- 
tures, saves persons who choose to follow Him. 
Thus truly pious persons, surpassing difficulties, 
will always succeed in this life and more easily 
vet hereafter. 



THK SYSTEM OF THE DIVINE RELIGION. 99 

C. Happiness. 

Happiness is the necessary result of a good 
personal conduct. Therefore persons who have 
steadily striven for some good are surely to har- 
vest some happiness as the flower and fruit of 
their honest endeavors. 

As love to God leads to every good action, per- 
sons who consciously love God will enjoy happi- 
ness. But if pious persons, highminded enough, 
soar in their conduct towards the most lofty, 
universal sphere of the Divine love, though only 
as towards an infinitely far and mere ideal goal, 
they will fully succeed on earth, and in blessed- 
ness rejoice hereafter. This cheerful view of life 
is justified, as God's might predominates in the 
universe. 

Thus the love of God is always bound with 
happiness ; with the happiness of men, but there- 
fore, and, above all, also the happiness of God. 



Index. 



Acting, way of, 30, 31, 33, 
35,, 36, 38, 42, 43, 44, 49, 
50, 59 

Afterlife, 55, 63, 64, 91 

Angels, 91, 98 

Animals, cruelty to, 51, 84 

Annihilation, impossibil- 
ity of, 25, 56, 93 

B 

Beauty, 31, 47 
Being, defined, 53 
Blessedness, 64, 99 
Bodies, explanation of, 

54, 90 

C 
Charity, 36, 50 
Creator, 54, 87 
Creatures, conception of, 

54, 89 

D 
Depraved minds, 55, 89, 

92 
Destiny, 24 
Diseases, 46, 47 
Duties, 50 

E 

Education, reform of, 75 
Eternity of God, 53, 87; 
of Satan. 56, 93 



Evil, its origin, 20, 21, 24, 
67, 86; its meaning, 56, 
93 

Expiation of misdeeds, 51 
51 

F 

Faithfulness, 29 
Fate, 66 

Festival days, 95 
Finiteness of creatures, 

54, 89 

Freedom of minds, 53, 

55, 60, 61, 66, 83, 88, 
89, 92 

Fundamental con(;eptions 
of the Divine Religion, 

85 

G 

God, conception of, 53, 

87 
Good, the, its origin, 21 
Goodness, its meaning, 

54, 83 

H 

Habits, good, 47, 49 
Happiness, 27, 37, 56, 99 
Health, 47, 97 
Heaven, 64, 92 
Hell, 55, 92 
Holiness of God, 87 
Hygiene, reform of pres 
ent rules of, 75 



M 



Individuality of minds, 53, 
87, 89 

Infinitude of God, 53, 87; 
of Satan, 56, 93 

Inspirations!, receptivity 
of God's, 62 

Intellect, God an, 11, 58 

Introduction into the Di- 
vine Religion, 83 

Intuitive treatment, 6 



Justice, God's perfect. 



K 

Knowledge, 66. 67 



Laborers, sufferings of, 
38 

i.ie, 30 

Life-experiences of Mr. 
H. B. G., 15 

Life, purpose of embod- 
ied, 63, 74 

Liturgy, 95 

Living-guaranty by the 
state, 76 

Locality of veneration of 
God, 95, 96 

Love, its meaning, 54, 
83; of self, 27, 84, 97; of 
others, 16. 27, 39, 51, 83, 
84, 96, 97; of God, 94; 
of creatures, 96 



Manners. 31 

Matrimonial prpblem, 76 

Medicines, 46 

Might of God predomi- 
nant, 57, 92, 99 

Minds, definition of. 53 

Miracles, 68, 71 

Misery. 56, 93 
N 

Nature, 57, 68 
O 

Omnipotence of God, an 
erroneous view, 53. 68 

Omnipresence of God, 
53, 87; of Satan, 56, 93 

Omniscience of God. 53, 
87; of Satan, 56, 93 

P 

Pains, consequence of 
evil, 56. 93 

Perfection of God. 53. 54, 
87, 88 

Personality of God, 11, 
58, 87 

Piety, 98, 99 

Pity with fellowmen, 18, 
36, 39, 44 

Power of God. 40, 53, 58, 
87; of Satan, 56, 93 

Private system, 41 

Proof of the fundament- 
al conceptions of the 
Divine Religion, 85 



INDEX 



Providence of God, 61, 87 
Punishment of criminals 
a mistake, 43 



Soul, its definition, 54, 90 
Success, 26, 35, 60, 98, 99 
System of the Divine Re- 
ligion, 83 



Reform of principles of 

men's conduct, 74-77 
Rest, 50; davs of, 95 
Revelation, the, 11 
Righteousness, 35 
Rights, respect of, 50 



Time of veneration of 

God, 95 
Trust in others' faith, 33 
Truth, its meaning, 29; 

God's perfect, 30, 54, 88 



Salvation of the soul, 17, 
18. 50, 55, n 

Satan, conception of, 56, 
93 

Sceptic, 15, 33 

Science, God its propa- 
gator, 54 

Scientific treatment, 6 

Self-respect, 27, 97 

Self-sufficiency of God, 
53, 84, 94 

Social system. 41; state, 
75, 76 



Universal, the problem 
of, 5 

V 

Vanity, 31, 32 
Veneration of God, 94 
Virtue, 48, 66, 97 

W 

Will, strength of, 44, 47, 

49, 66 
Wisdom, its meaning, 30; 

God's perfect, 54, 88 



Pi^G 30 ISC' 



